NCDC to engage police to enforce betel nut ban
By HELEN TARAWA
The National Capital District Commission will be engaging police to enforce the betel nut trading ban in public areas, says Governor Powes Parkop.
He has written to Police Commissioner David Manning to delegate an officer with a rank of inspector to be in charge of the enforcement unit.
“Our focus now is on the consumers. We want vendors to sell from their homes and places and be responsible for their rubbish,” he said.
“The bus stop wardens will start this week with the awareness programme.
“By the end of the week, they will start enforcing that decision: You get on the bus, you do not chew and not get the betel nut with you.
“And no selling at the bus stops.
“So we start small at that level.”
Parkop said city authorities had already started arresting people chewing and spitting in public places. Some have been punished by cleaning up drains.
“The enforcement unit covers urban safety, physical planning and health enforcement,” he said.
“They will continue to liaise with the police.
“I’m waiting for the commissioner to give that direction.
“We have our own plan as to how to enforce that decision.”
Parkop said they were enforcing the Summary Offences Act passed by Parliament in 2018.
7 comments
Excellent! Betelnut chewing is only for uneducated, uncivilizedand sick and diseased people.
Parkop please Act now! Have police officers at all traffic lights and main bus stops to crackdown on buai/smoke sellers from one particular region of the nation. They are painting a very bad image about POM city. Such hooligans need to be arrested and the much talked hefty fines and imprisonment period be imposed on them. Start exercising the rules/laws. Enough is enough.
Road Transport Authority (RTA) also needs to wake up from their long sweet daylight slumber and peaceful sleep and work with police officers to arrest and charge drivers and bus crews and people chewing inside PMV buses. Where are the RTA officers and their so called boss! Police officers and RTA must work together to enforce these laws forbidding sellers selling buais, smoke, drinks, lollies, etc at the traffics lights and bus stops. Venders must also have some sense of humanity and respect for authorities.
Police Commissioner and RTA bosses, you need to discipline and apply the same rules to your officers. Most chew when in police and RTA uniforms vehicles. Respect and loyalty are virtues.
TRUTRU.
Sorry it will never work. How long have you been trying?
hahaha…, m chol yah…!
Parkop, could you ensure that this time it works and the enforcement goes on as long as beatlenut is chewed by just about anybody in PNG, including police personnel, public servants and MPs? Keep funding the enforcement division and no more slackening off due to political pressures or funding shortfalls or whatever excuses. If the Mekeos and the Central/Gulf people want to make their treasured nut a commodity, NCDC must use all its resources at its disposal to minimize or stop this primitive practice from competing or going against its endeavors to make this city a clean capital for all to be proud of!
Governor Parkop, Please employ educated individuals as bus stop wardens and not drug bodies to harass pom citizens. also please give them proper uniforms or something official because any idiot on the street can ware that yellow/orange vast.
Also educate these police officers that a it is against the law to put your hands into a womans bag/bilum, take here daily takings. arrest and charge at the station.
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